Turbine drive for automobiles



Dec. 17, 1935. J. SCHRAG TURBINE DRIVE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan, 9, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l I nven or 605 55/7226 IW t or ney Dec. 17, 1935. J. SCHRAG 2,024,663

TURBINE DRIVE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 9, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 n venlor A tlorney Dec. 17, 1935. J. SCHRAG 2,024,663

TURBINE DRIVE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 9, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F?: 3.. B 96 I Inuenior 65 J/ldfi 56/7246 A llorney Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

2,024,663 TURBINE DRIVE FOR AUTOMOBILES Jacob Schrag, Rochester, N. Y. 2 Application January 9, 1930, Serial No. 420,279

'9 Claims. (01. 60-54) The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method and mechanism of driving the wheels of an automobile.

Another object of the invention is' to provide a gear casing containing oil and an impeller for driving said oil through certain passageways which oil is used to drive turbines which in turn drive the wheels of the automobile, the oil being caused to circulate continuously through the impeller and the turbines.

These and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the automobile driven by my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the gearing by which the automobile is driven with my invention.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 31:, 3:1: of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4a; 4a: of

Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in vertical section in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view of the governing ring.

Figure 7 is a sectional detail view showing the impeller.

Figure 8 is a detail view of the arm that moves the ring that controls the position of the valves in the impeller.

Figure 9 is an elevation of the impeller. Figure 10 is-a vertical section through the im-' peller shown in Figure 9, with the governing,

ring thrown out and the valves shown open.

Figure 11 is a section on the line Hx-lla:

of Figure 9.

Figure-12 is a detail view of one of the valves.

Figure 13 is a detail view of one of the clips by which the valves are held in place on the impeller.

In the drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In Figures 1 and 2 reference numeral I indicates the chassis of the car, 2 indicates the shaft that drives the right rear wheel, 3 indicates the one end is provided with agear 8 which meshes 3 with a gear 9 which is driven by a shaft l0 which is driven by the engine ll shown in Figures 1 and 2. On the righthand end of the shaft 1 is an impeller i2. The casing 6 is filled with oil 5 which is free to circulate to all parts of the casing. The impeller I2 drives this oil in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in Figure 3, which indicates that the oil travels to the right and up through a tubular passageway l3 at 10 the top of which are port openings l 4- and IS on one side thereof and port openings 16 and II on the other side thereof. These port openings are controlled by a tubular sleeve valve [8 which in turn is moved by a rod or handle l9 that extends out through the top of the casing.

When the valve i8 is in the lowest position, theports i4 and IE will be closed and the oil will pass up through the sleeve and will'pass, out through the ports l5 and i1 and when the 20 valve is in the highest position the ports l5 and I! will be closed and the oil will then pass out through the ports l4 and IS. The oil passes both to the right and left at the top of the passageway l3. Opposite the ports I! and I6 are 5 two turbines 20 and 2!, and opposite the ports I4 and I5 are the turbines 22 and 23.

' In any case there will be a clearance between the turbines 20, 2|, 22, 23 and the casing or housing in which they revolve, and some of the liquid under pressure willleak through this clearance. The how of. this liquid will be sufllcient to start the turbine in the right direction. As shown in Figure 4, the valve I8 closes the lower ports 14 and i6 and leaves the upper ports i5 and I1 open. Between the partitions IBA and 3B and the turbines 20, 2|, 22, 23 the clearance is very small, much smaller than the clearance between the turbines 20, 2| 22, 23 and the rest of the casing or housing. This permits the liquid 0 to leak in the proper direction to insure the turbines turning with it. The filling and'emptying of the pockets of the turbines as they revolve insures the development of power just as it does in an undershot or overshot wheel. I The turbines 2i and 23 drive the rear shafts 3 and 2 respectively and the turbines 20 and 22 drive the front shafts 5 and 4 respectively. The turbines 20 and 2| are contained in and rotate in the same section of the gear casing but are go free to turn independently of each other, although as a matter of fact they always turn in the same direction and substantially at the same angular velocity, or nearly 50. Likewise the turbines 22 and 23 are contained in thesame sec- .the. liquid passes through the turbines.

tion of the gear casing but are free to turn independently of each other, although as a matter of fact they always turn in the same direction and at substantially the same angular velocity, or nearly so.

When the valve I6 is in its lowest position as shown in Figure 4 theturbines will turn in the direction to drive the car forward and when the valve 18 is in its upper position the turbines will turn in the reverse direction and drive the car backwards.

The shafts 2 and 3 will turn in opposite directions to drive the car forward as can be seen from the gearing by which their power is transmitted to the wheels. The shaft 2 drives the -wheel 26 the shaft 3 drives the wheel 21, the shaft 4 drives the wheel 28 and the shaft 5 drives thewheel 29. As already explained each of these shafts and the wheels driven thereby turn independently of the other shafts and the wheels, although they are all turning at the same time in unison with each other and at substantially the same angular velocity. The power of each shaft is communicated to its wheel through the beveled gears shown in Figure 2.

The impeller l2 which applies the power to the oil is shown in detail in Figures 9 and 10. As shown in Figure 9, the impeller has four blades thereon 6|, 62, 63, and 64 each of which is flared like the blade of a fan. On the forward edge of each of these blades a small blade 66, 61, 66, and 69 is pivoted each of which acts as a valve and is used for the purpose of making larger or smaller the opening between the trailing edge of one blade and the forward edge of the next blade. 7 Assuming that the diameter of the impeller shown in Figure 9 is eight inches, each of the valves 66, 61, 68 and 69 will be about'three inches long and one inch or more wide. the openings between the blades 6|, 62, 63, and 64 would never be less than about one inch when the valves were in so-called closed position. When the valves were fully open, the width of the openings between the blades would be about one and three-quarter inches. With the same angular velocity of the impeller, the more the valves 66, 61, 66, and 69 are opened the more liquid will go through the openings between the blades of the impeller l2 and the greater will be its driving power even with a lower pressure on the liquid. As the speed of the impeller increases, the driving power of it also -will increase because pressure and volume increase faster than If the valves 66, 61, 66, and 69 are opened, or the speed of the impeller is increased, or both, more liquid will flow in the direction of the arrow under pressure, thereby increasing the driving power of the impeller on the turbines. It will also be understood that the liquid at rest normally stands at a level just below the turbines, which level is indicated by the dotted line in Figure 4. These valves are all connected to a ring 65 which is moved along the shaft 1 toward or away from the impeller l2 for the purpose of closing the valves or permitting them to open. The ring 65 is moved by the arm 16 shown in Figure 8. The lower ends of the arm 16 engage in bearings H and 12 shown in Figures 3 and 8. This arm 16 carries anti-friction rollers 13 and 14 which normally push the ring 65 to the right in Figure 3 and close the valves in the impeller. The normal tendency of the ring is to move to the left in Figure 3 as the impeller is rotated and open The width of the valves. The upper end of the arm 16 is moved to the right or left as'follows. v

This arm 16 is forked at the upper end and each side of the fork is slotted as shown at 15 and 16. which has a gear 18 positively connected thereto at one end and a gear 19 located at'the other end. The gear 16 meshes with a gear- 66 keyed on the shaft 6 and the gear 19 meshes with the gear 8| keyed on the shaft 5. The ball-governor is driven by the gear I6. As the governor turns, the balls fly out and this draws the gear 16 to the right. The gear 16 rotates on a collar 66 that is keyed to the shaft 85. This collar has a flange 86 thereon. When the gear 16 moves to the right, it makes frictional contact with the collar 86 and this in turn causes the shaft 65 to turn. The shaft 85 has a thread on the right hand end that engages a nut 88. The nut 88 has trunnions which extend into the slots 15, and 20 16 of the fork, on which the nut can swing. As the shaft 85 turns, it draws the nut 68 to the left in Figures 3 and 5 and this in turn moves the arm 16 back so as to permit the ring 65 to move away from the impeller I2 and open the valves. This increases the driving effect of the impeller because it allows more oil to pass through the impeller. This causes the car to go faster.

As the shaft 65 continues to turn the nut 66 continues to move to the left until it presses against the collar 9| and pushes on the sleeve 96 and pushes the pins 92 on the ends of the sleeve 96 through openings in the collar 66 and against the gear 16. from the collar 86 and out of frictional contact with it so that the turning of the shaft 65 stops,

.leaving the nut 88 in the position indicated, with the arm 16 moved to the left at the top in Figure 3 and with the ring 65 moved away from the impeller.

When this position is reached-the governor is in equilibrium and the speed of the car will remain uniform. When'the car slows down, the balls of the governor come together and push the collar 62 to the right. The collar to move toward the impeller and close the valves.

The sleeve 96 is splined on the shaft 65, slots 92' being provided in the sleeve which engage with the pin 93 on the shaft. These slots limit the endwise movement of the sleeve 96 on the shaft.

InFigure 10 I have shown a detail view of the collar and impeller in. which a tongue .65 is shown on the impeller that engages with the slot 96 on the ring by which the ring is positivelyrotated by the impeller at the same angular velocity and is'yet left free to move toward and away from the impeller. On the ring are provided cam shaped recesses 91 in each of which engages a projection on the end. of one of the valves so that as the ring moves toward orv away from the impeller, the valves are swung to close them or permitting them to open.

The ring 65 is moved forward by the governor as the speed of. the turbines changes.

A centrifugal governor I1 is provided 5 This pushes the gear 16 away 35 The practical operation of my invention is as follows.

. and 69 will be in so-called closed position because the turbines and the governor are not turning. The impeller l2 delivers liquid under pressure to the turbines 20, 2|, 22, and 29 and causes them to turn with an increasing angular velocity until the power developed by, the turbines in driving the car equals the power delivered to them through the liquid driven by the impeller. As the speed of the turbines 20, 2|, 22, and 23 increases, more liquid will pass through them. Because of the increase in speed the governor 16 operates to permit the valves 66, 61, 68, 69 on the impeller l2 to open, thereby causing the impeller to feed more liquid. If the angular velocity of the impeller I2 is constant, the pressure atwhich it drives the liquid will drop, but if the engine drives the impeller with an increasing angular velocity, the pressure will be maintained on the liquid even though the valves 66, 61, 68, 69 open further and further and a larger volume is driven by the impeller in consequence.

At aconstant pressure the liquid that goes through the turbines will be approximately in proportion to the speed of the turbines. 'As

the speed of the turbines 28, 2|, 22, 23 increases,

more liquid must be delivered to them. As the car speeds up on level ground, the turbines 29,

2|, 22', 28 must turn faster and more liquid must- .of the turbines and governor 10 drops, less liquid will pass through the turbines, and this in turn will cause the impeller to raise the pressure of the liquid and this increase in pressure will. be aided by the closing of the valves 66, 61, 69, 69 more or less by the operation of the governor.

As the speed of the impeller increases, the quantity of the liquid delivered-thereby will increase as well. As-the valves 66, 61, 68, 69 are opened, with the impeller at' constant speed the quantity of liquid will be increased, and while the pressure may drop, the increase in quantity will actually increase the power delivered. As the speed of the car increases, the valves will open, thus increasing the quantity of liquidfed to the turbines. If the car slows up, as for instance in going up hill, the turbines will slow up and the governorwill slow up too, and the governor will then operate to close the-valves 66, 81, 66, 69 more or less, cutting down the quantity of liquid fed but increasing the pressure and increasing the driving power on the turbines.

As the car speeds up on level ground, the turbines must turn faster andmore liquid must be fed to the turbines to make them turn faster;

If the .impeller is rotated at a constant anguspeed of the car is desired, the speed of the engine and impeller must be inoreasedfthereby increasing the volume of the liquid and' raising the pressure. As the speed of the turbines increases, the pressure will drop until the impeller is speeded up to deliver the liquid at a faster 6 rate.

It will be understood that the impeller is placed at the bottom of the gear casing and the turbines are placed above the impeller in the gear casing, and as the oil is discharged from the turbines it 10 runs back by gravity to'the bottom of the gear casing, where it can be used over again by the impeller for the purpose .of driving the turbines.

' I claim:

1. An automobile drive consisting of a gear 15 casing having oil therein, a. passageway therein, an impeller at one end ,of said passageway adapted to drive oil through said passageway, a pair of turbines at the other end of said passageway and on opposite sides thereof, adapted to be driven by the oil, the casing being-adapted to return the oil to I the impeller outside of the passageway, a'shaft adapted to drive the impeller, a shaft driven by each .of said turbines and extending through the gear casing, gearing by which each of said driven shafts. drives a wheel of the automobile, said impeller having'blades thereon with openings between them, a valve on one edge of each of said blades, means for partially opening and closing said valves to vary the flow of oil through said impeller.

2. An automobile drive consisting of a gear casing having oil therein, a passagewaytherein, an impeller at one end of said passageway adapted to drive oil through said passageway, a pair of turbines at the other end of said passageway and on opposite sides thereof, adapted to be driven by the oil, the casing being adapted to return the oil to' the impeller outside of the passageway, a shaft adapted to drive the 40 impeller, a shaft driven by each ofsaid turbines and extending through the gear casing, gearing by which each of said'driven shafts drives a wheel of the automobile, said impeller having blades thereon with openings between them, a

valveon one edge of each of said blades, a ring concentric with the impeller and movable toward and away from it to shift the valves, a governor adapted to move the ring to close the valves,

said governor being driven from one of the shafts 0 driven by a turbine;

3. An automobile drive consisting of wheels capable of being driven on an auto, a. shaft for driving each wheel, a turbine on each shaft adapted to be driven by a stream of oil, a

rotary impeller and shaft for driving the oil said shafts being all parallel within the gear casing.

4. An automobile drive consisting of wheels capable of being driven on an auto, ashaft for driving .each wheel, a turbine on each shaft adapted to be driven by a stream of oil, or rotary impeller and shaft for driving the 011 against the turbines, said turbines and impeller being connected by a tube, a gear casing surrounding said turbines and impeller and tube,

the oil being driven by the impeller through the tube against the turbines, and being returned to the impeller outside of the tube and inside of the gear casing, said impeller'being placed below the normal level of oil in 'the gear casing, said shafts being all parallel within the gear casing.

5. An automobile drive consisting of two wheels on an auto, a shaft .for driving each wheel, a turbine on each shaft adapted to be driven by astream of oil, a rotary impeller and shaft for driving the oil against the turbines, a casing surrounding the impeller and the turbines, a passageway in said casing through which the impeller drives the oil against the turbines, said impeller being at the bottom of the casing, and said turbines being placed above the impeller, the oil being held in the gear casing and being returned by gravity from the turbines to the impeller outside of said passageway, said shafts being all parallel within the gear casing.

6. An automobile drive consisting of two wheels on an. auto, a shaft for driving each wheel, a turbine on each shaft adapted to be driven bya stream of oil, a rotary impeller and shaft for driving the oil against the turbines, a casing surrounding the impeller and the turbines, a passageway in said casing through which the impeller drives the oil against the turbines, said impeller being at the bottom of the casing, and

said turbines being placed above the impeller, the oil being held in the gear casing and being returned by gravity from the turbines to the impeller outside of said passageway, a governor for regulating the amount of oil driven by said impeller, a shaft on which said governor is carried, said governor and shaft being carried above the normal oil level in said casing, said governor being driven from one of the shafts driven by a turbine.

'1. An automobile drive consisting of a gear casing, a power shaft extending into the casing near the top, having a gear wheel thereon inside of the casing, a second gear driven thereby lower down in the casing, a shaft on one end of which said second gear is mounted, a rotary impeller on the other end of the shaft, a tube inside of said gear casing in which said impeller 5 rotates, said tube having the shape of an elbow, turbines and turbine shafts driven thereby at the upper end of s .id tube, oil contained in said gear casing which is driven by said impeller through said elbow and said turbines, said oil being returned to the impeller by said gear casingoutside of and around said tube, said shafts being all parallel within the gear casing.

8. An automobile drive consisting of four wheels on an auto, a shaft for driving eaoh }5 wheel, a turbine on each shaft adapted to be driven by a stream of oil, a. rotary impeller for driving the oil against the turbines, said impeller having blades thereon with openings between them, a valve on one edge of each of said blades, means for partially opening and closing said valves to vary the flow of oil through said impeller.

9. An automobile drive consisting of four wheels on an auto, a shaft for driving each wheel, a turbine on each shaft adapted to be driven by a stream of oil, a rotary impeller for driving the oil against the turbines, said impeller having blades thereon with openings 'between them, a valve on one edge of each of said blades, and means for partially opening and closing said valves to vary the flow of oil through said impeller, said means including a ring concentric with the impeller and movable toward and away from it to shift the valves, a governor adapted to move the ring towards the impeller to close the valves, said governor being driven from one of the shafts driven by one of said turbines.

JACOB SCHRAG. 

